The Bible App is completely free, with no advertising and no in-app purchases. Get the app

Orchard Community Church

“One Room at a Time” (The Magi)

The Magi could have stayed home, instead they went seeking after more of what God held for them and they weren’t disappointed. Will we continue to seek after and make room for Jesus in our hearts and lives each day?

Locations & Times

8180 Telephone Rd, Ventura, CA 93004, USA

Sunday 10:30 PM

OrchardCommunity.Online.Church

Sunday 10:00 PM

Prepare Him Room

In the story of Jesus’ birth, we’re told that he was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. The Bible doesn’t actually mention an innkeeper, but the poor guy gets a pretty bad wrap for someone we’re not even sure existed because of this. Yet, it didn’t end there, Jesus often found that people didn’t have room for Him. The Jewish leaders didn’t have room for Jesus, neither did King Herod or the Romans, they all saw Him as a threat or problem. Most of the people didn’t have room for Jesus either because He wasn’t what they expected or wanted Him to be. Today many people still don’t have room for Jesus because inviting him into their lives and hearts would mean real change. Yet despite all of our reservations, the great Christmas carol Joy to the World proclaims, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” So can we make room? Are we too busy? Too afraid? Too proud? Are we closed to Jesus or can we make room for Him and all He wants to bring to and do in us?

Online Service

Join us Sunday mornings either under the Tent at Orchard or at on our Live Stream! The Service begins at 10:30 am. We invite you to be a part of our interactive online service starting at 10 am with announcements and chatting before the live stream of the service begins.

https://orchardcommunity.online.church/

Let us know you were here today!

Let us know you were here and also share your prayer requests and praise reports.

https://orchardventura.wufoo.com/forms/m87ol4d0kaymt1/

Give - Online Donations

Online donations are quick, easy and safe with PushPay

https://pushpay.com/pay/orchardventura

♪ We Three Kings of Orient Are

We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain moor and mountain Following yonder star O star of wonder star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading still proceeding Guide us to Thy perfect light Born a King on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever ceasing never Over us all to reign Glorious now behold Him arise King and God and sacrifice Alleluia alleluia Earth to heav'n replies CCLI Song # 38002

♪ Love Came Down

If my heart is overwhelmed And I cannot hear Your voice I'll hold on to what is true though I cannot see If the storms of life they come And the road ahead gets steep I will lift these hands in faith I will believe I'll remind myself of all that You've done And the life I have because of Your Son Love came down and rescued me Love came down and set me free And I am Yours I am forever Yours Mountain high or valley low I sing out remind my soul That I am Yours I am forever Yours When my heart is filled with hope And ev'ry promise comes my way When I feel Your hands of grace rest upon me Staying desp'rate for You God Staying humbled at Your feet I will lift these hands and praise I will believe 'Cause I am Yours and I am Yours For all my days Jesus I am Yours And I am Yours and I am Yours For all my days Jesus I am Yours CCLI Song # 5148938

♪ Christ is Enough

Christ is my reward and all of my devotion Now there's nothing in this world That could ever satisfy Through every trial my soul will sing No turning back, I've been set free Christ is enough for me Christ is enough for me Everything I need is in You Everything I need Christ my all in all the joy of my salvation And this hope will never fail Heaven is our home Through every storm my soul will sing Jesus is here to God be the glory I have decided to follow Jesus No turning back no turning back The cross before me the world behind me No turning back no turning back CCLI Song # 6514035

♪ Glorious Day

I was buried beneath my shame Who could carry that kind of weight It was my tomb 'til I met You I was breathing but not alive All my failures I tried to hide It was my tomb 'til I met You ('Cause when) You called my name (and) I ran out of that grave Out of the darkness into Your glorious day You called my name (and) I ran out of that grave Out of the darkness into Your glorious day Now Your mercy has saved my soul Now Your freedom is all that I know The old made new Jesus when I met You I needed rescue my sin was heavy But chains break at the weight of Your glory I needed shelter I was an orphan Now You call me a citizen of Heaven When I was broken You were my healing Now Your love is the air that I'm breathing I have a future my eyes are open CCLI Song # 7081388

The Bethlehem Star just appeared in the sky on December 21st and it reminds us of that story that we’re going to look at this morning, of those Wise Men so long ago who made such an amazing journey to find Jesus!

Today we will wrap things up with the story of the Wise Men or Magi and a focus on making room for Jesus, not just at Christmas time, but making room for him, or more room for him, as we seek to live our lives of faith each day!

Matthew 2:1-12

Most modern translations now use the actual Greek word, which is “Magi.”

Our God has said we can come directly to Him! We don’t have to rely on lesser things.

But these Magi were different because although they were using the stars as a road map, they were clearly looking for something more.

Despite all the obstacles they would encounter, they made room for this amazing journey.

The nativity scene is really more of a tradition than it is accurate in regard to when they arrived. When the Magi arrive in Jerusalem, v. 2 they announced that they’re searching for a child who has been “born king of the Jews,” whose birth was announced by “his star,” and that they’ve come to “worship Him.”

V. 3 says that Herod, the king over Israel at that time, was “disturbed” by the news of the Magi and the whole city along with him. And it’s not hard to see why, no King wanted to find that they had a rival to their throne.

Herod had no room for Jesus and he was not someone who you wanted to get on the bad side of!

And although we can understand that fear was partly the motivator here, the people had no room for Jesus either.

The chief priests and teachers of the law had no room for Jesus either.

After meeting with Herod, v. 9-10 says the star led the Magi to the place Jesus was, Bethlehem, and they were “overjoyed.” And finally, when they get to the house where Jesus was, they bow down and worship Him and give Him “gifts” in v. 11.

We can see that the Magi continued to make room in their hearts and lives when they left. Because in v. 12, we’re told that as they went, they were no longer guided by a star, but by God! They didn’t return to Herod as he’d ordered them to because God warned them not to in a dream.

These wise men sought after Jesus and made room for him in their hearts and lives and today wise men and women still do! And as they do, Jesus continues to work in their hearts and lives to grow and transforming them more and more into the people God made and called them to be!

Philippians 1:6

If we continue to trust in Jesus and make room for Him in our hearts and lives He’ll continue to work in us, to complete all that God wants to do in us!

We need to remember that what actually made their gifts meaningful was that they had already made room for Jesus in their hearts! You see there’s nothing that God needs. He has limitless power. But what He wants is you!

The question is; will we invite Him into our hearts and lives and make room for Him to stay? And if we do, will we just give Him a little space in the corner or will we seek to give what He truly wants, which is all of us, our whole hearts, and our whole lives!

May we do the same, may we invite Jesus into our hearts and lives and make room for Him, and then each day may we seek to make more room for Him until our whole hearts and our whole lives are completely in His hands.

♪ This I Believe

Our Father everlasting, the all creating One, God Al - mighty, Through Your Holy Spirit, conceiving Christ the Son, Jesus our Savior I believe in God our Father, I believe in Christ the Son, I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is three in One, I believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again, For I believe, in the Name of Jesus Our judge and our defender, suffered and crucified, forgiveness is in You, Descended into darkness, You rose in glorious life, forever seated high I believe in You, I believe You rose again, I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord CCLI Song # 7018338

Today's Music
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

Please submit your listing NOW!

Our next New Member’s Class will be held by Zoom on January 4, 11, and 25 at 6:30 pm. There is still time to join the class and we’d love for you to do so if you feel led.

Worship Options

We are excited to be able to worship under the Tent together. If you are not wanting to be under the Tent, feel free to sit in the front row of parking spots of the Orchard Parking Lot your car and tune your radio to 100.1 FM to listen to the service.

1. Masks must be worn while on the Orchard Campus (both inside and out)
2. Please maintain the Social Distance
3. Sunday Morning Children's program. Children are always welcome in the service and we do not mind the noises that come with children. Children are a healthy sign of a healthy congregation.

Orchard Kids Sunday School (For preschool through 5th grade)
We encourage families to bring your own blanket and beach chairs and distance on the lawn as much as you like. Children will worship with their families and be dismissed following the kids’ message, escorted by our Orchard Kids’ Leaders to our beautiful outdoor classroom space in the children’s play yard. We will have our Bible story, activities, crafts, and games in a specially designed format following current health and safety guidelines. Parents, please come to the children’s area immediately following the worship service and find all of your children in one place. Each family will receive a “My Church Bag” to be brought each week with basic supplies already included plus items from home: water bottle and mask for each child and a blanket for all siblings. Our team is so excited to see your family! See you Sunday!

Nursery care for children birth to 3 years old is available by RSVP only to Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.

Interested in being a Volunteer? Middle school through adult, please contact Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.

While we understand that some may not feel comfortable coming back in person or having to wear masks while on the Orchard campus, we encourage you to stay home and join us online with our Live Stream.

Office Hours
Monday – Thursdays from 10 am to noon.
Masks and social distancing are required.
If you are unable to make it in during our office hours, please send an email to info@orchardventura.org and or leave a message at (805) 647-3757.

Are you looking for opportunities to connect with each other in new or deeper ways now and in the coming months?

There are several options for all ages! Some groups are low commitment with no homework and each meeting is a stand-alone study, so you don't have to worry if you can't make it each time. Some are more in-depth and encourage digging deeper on your own time and then coming back to discuss more! Most are still meeting on Zoom, however, there are a few in-person options! Visit our website for more information or call the church office to get connected! (805) 647-3757

Enjoy the company of other parents at 9:00 on Zoom (or in the library eventually) on Sunday mornings discussing what God says about life as a family. Make life more enjoyable and less frustrating by strengthening your relationship with God, Find life filled with opportunities, We will be following the children's curriculum, using stories from throughout the bible, taking some from unusual perspectives. This group is facilitated by Rich and LuAnn Smith. Please email Rich to get the Zoom Link and password at R_smith122@hotmail.com

Orchard Community Church

http://orchardventura.org/